Spray device



July 1,1930. I us 1,769,266

SPRAY DEVICE Filed July 11, 1927 INVENTOR 5 Figure 1 1s Patented 1.151;, 1930 7 JOSEPH a. Items, for sm'rrnn, wasnnrc ron SERRA-Y 'nnvroa Application nled my 11,

This invention relates to improvements in spraying devices, and particularly to aspraying attachment for distributing commercial fertilizer; it being the principal ohject of the present invention to provide a spray device of the above character that is adapted for connection with the ordinarygarden hose, and which embodies a container, or hopper, in which a quantity of fer- 10 tilizer may be laced and from which will be fed. automatically into the spray for distribution thereby. y

The commercial fertilizer for which the present device is intended is prepared in powdery, or granular, form and the customary method of distributing this is to dissolve a quantity in a certain amount of water and then sprinkle the water over the ground to be fertilized. This method is 'very unsatisfactory for the reason that an even distribution isimpossible audit frequently happens that too much is placed in one spot which causes damage to the vegetation instead of being a benefit. Therefore,- it is the object of the present invention to provide means for an easy and even distribution of the fertilizer without requir inilthat it previously be dissolved. I

ore specifically stated, the invention resides in the provision of a spraying device for the above purpose embodying a spray nozzle and a hopper for fertilizer, having. a feed connection with the nozzle through. which the fertilizer will be drawn by suction created in the nozzle and will be fed into. the latter and distributed by the spray. Other objects. of the invention reside inthe provision of means for controlling the rate of feeding the fertilizer into the s ray. Other objects of the invention resi e in the various details of construction, the combination of parts embodied in the invention and in theircmode of operation as is herein after described.

In accomplishing theseand other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of'construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in :the ac-. companying drawings, wherein-v a central, vertical section of a 'has a coaxial passa' e 16 through which the 1927. Serial No. 204,927.

spraying device constructed in accordance with the present invention., Figure 2 is a side view of the device as connected with a hose in use.

Referring more in detail to [the draw- 1 designates the tubular bodyof the spraying device, provided at one end with an interiorly threaded nipple 2 whereby it may be attached, as shown in Figure 2, tea garden hose 3. At its other end, the tube 1 is interiorly threaded, as .at 4,. and threaded therein is a spray head 5 having a co-axial' spray channel 6 which, at itsinner end, is fed by a smaller continuing channel 7 that opens directly into the'tube 1 and which is also fed by a plurality of small, radially directed channels 8 through which water enters the channel 7 in such manner as to form a whirling spray. Fitted. over the outer end of the spray head is a friction 2 tightsleeve 9 supporting, centrally at its outer end a conical head 10 a ainst which the water is dischargedfrom t e channelv 6 to be formed into a spra the direction of the spray beingfcontrolle by adjustment of the sleeve which. will-move the head 10 from or toward the end of the channel 6. w Formed integrally with the tube 1, at one side, is a boss 12 provided with a laterally opening chamber 13 into which the lower end of a conical hopper 14 for containingcommercial fertilizer, as indicated at 15, is threaded. The mounting end of the hopper fertilizer maybe fed into the chamber 13 and from this it is delivered through a channel 17 in the boss 12 and a continuing channel, or port 18, in the head 5 into the spray channel 6.

Located co-axiallyof the passage 16 is a small pipe 20 which, at its outer end, is closed and, at its inner end, isthreaded through the base of chamber 13 and into the tube 1. The closed end of the pipe 20 terminates approximately even with the up per end of the channel 16 and is provided at that end with a plurality of small, downwardly directed jet openings 21 through which water from the tube 1 may be dis- 10 effect the feeding of the'fertilizer to the mixing chamber 13 from which it passes through channels 17 and 18 into the spray force the flow of the material through the i channel 6. Additional jets 22 are provided in the tube within the chamber 13 to farther channels and to provide suflicient water for dissolving the fertilizer.

When the device is in use the rate of flow of the fertilizing material from the hopper into the s ray is dependent on the amount of'waterelivered from the jets 21 and 22 and the suction that is created by the passage of-the water from the channel"? and t rough the channel 6. To control the jets, I have provided the needle '25, which is threaded upwardly through the base of the tube 1 through a suitably packed gland 26, and this is rovided at its outer end with a thumb nut 2 whereby it may be adjusted and, at its inner end, it is tapered to a point 28 for adjustment into and from-the mner end of the feed pi e 20. The suction through the feed channel 1s controlled by adjustment of a thumb screw 30 across a port 31 that opens from atmosphere into the channel 17; it being apparent that the more air admitted to the channel the less will be the suction for drawing the material from the mixing chamber 1 t 4 1 The hopper 14 is rovided with a cover 32- and this may be hel in place by any suitable connection means.

In using the device, the commercial fer tilizer, which is powdered or granular form, is placed in the hopper; then, the water is turned into the hose and is discharged While h the tube 1 and spray head channel ater'enterin the tube 20 from the tube 1 is discharged t rough small .jets 21 and, this feeds the fertilizer downwardly through throu 6.

the channel 16 into the mixing chamber '13 where it is dissolved and mixed with the watersupplied through the jets 22, and the solution is then delivered through the channels '17 and 18 to the channel 6 where it is thoroughly mixed with and dischar ed by the water sprayed from the nozzle. T e rate of flow; of the fertilizer from the hopper into the nozzle is made faster, or slower by adjustment of the needle 25 from or toward the end of the tube 20 to admit more or less water, and by adjustment of the .screw 30, toadmit more or ess air into the channel 17 and thus control the amount of suction for drawing the solution from the chamber 13. If it is desired to feed the maximum amount of the mixture to the nozzle, the screw 30 is turned down to entirely close the port 31 and the needle 25 is adjusted so as to entirel open the entrance to the pipe 20. have described the feeding of the fertilizer b the water feed and suction, it is apparent at the material could be fed by mixin spray.

Devices of this character provide a con- 1 venient, practical and economical wa of distributing commercial. fertilizer wit out the danger and damage to vegetationby applying too much in any one place. Such devices may be made in various sizes and it is readily apparent that various details of construction could be chan ed without departing from the spirit of t 'e invention and, for this reason, I do not-wishto be limited in" the claims only to the specific details hereinillustrated. v

Having thus described m invention, what I claim as new therein an desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A nozzle having a spray discharge channel and a mixing chainber provided with an outlet leading. into said spray discharge channel, a storage hopper having a feed channel leading into the mixing chamber and means for introducing water into the saidfeed channel adjacent the base of the hopper and into the mixin chamber.

2. A nozzlehavmg a spray discharge channel and having a mixing chamber; said chamber having an outlet leading into t espray discharge channel, a storage hopper havin a feed channel leading into the mixing jc amber and a pipe connected with the nozzle and leadin passage and provided wit jet openings whereby water from the nozzle will be delivered into the feed passage and into the mixing chamber. 7

' 3. A deiyice of the character described,

comprising a nozzle adapted for connection with a hose and having a spray head rovided with a s ray discharge channe a boss formed att e side of the nozzle having a laterally opening mixing chamber and a.

channel connecting the mixing chamber. with the discharge channel ofthe spray head, a pipe disposed within the discharge opening of the hopper and extending through the mixing chamber and opening into the nozzle; said pipe having jets for the discharge of water, downwardly through the into the feed discharge opening of the hopper and to the mixing chamber, means for controlling the admittance of water to the pipe and means for controlling the admittance of air into the channel which connects the mixing chamber with the s ray channel.

vSigned at cattle, Washington, this 6th day of July, 1927.

JOSEPH A. LUSIER. 

